The Weather Channel now naming winter storms, begins with Athena

While the National Weather Service has been naming tropical storms and hurricanes for years, The Weather Channel announced in October it would begin naming winter storms.

The first storm named by The Weather Channel for the 2012/2013 winter season occurred Wednesday in the northeast and was named "Athena."

The Weather Channel reasoned that naming winter storms will "better communicate the threat and the timing of the significant impacts that accompany these events." The Weather Channel believes that in naming winter storms it will be easier to follow coverage of the storms.

Although The Weather Channel is now naming winter storms, the National Weather Service will continue to only name tropical storms and hurricanes.